Parts of the car that drivers should check regularly

A car is made up of many parts, including brake pads, wipers, coolant... drivers should regularly check and replace them to ensure safety and limit damage during use.

To keep the car running smoothly, users should regularly check and maintain car parts.

Poor quality gasoline and oil are the leading causes of car and motorbike engines not being as good as new, affecting performance and fuel consumption, so periodic engine cleaning is quite necessary.

Each car is made up of many parts, according to Ford VN technical experts, each part has a different lifespan and usage time. Therefore, in addition to regular maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer, users should regularly check to ensure safety when operating the vehicle, and at the same time avoid damage.

In fact, with the traffic and climate conditions in Vietnam, the following parts are often easily worn out and damaged, so drivers should regularly check and maintain them:

Tires

Tires are the part that comes into direct contact with the road surface and are easily corroded after a period of use. With the road conditions in Vietnam, tires often encounter problems due to nails, improper pressure or rapid wear due to poor road surfaces.

Therefore, when using the car, the driver should pay attention to the pressure of each tire. Currently, some new cars are equipped with a tire pressure warning system, and information about each tire is always displayed on the central dashboard. For cars without this system, the driver should be equipped with a tire pressure gauge. The standard pressure parameters of each tire are usually posted on the front door of the driver's side. If the tire is inflated too low or too high, it will lead to uneven wear and the tire's life will be reduced. In addition, pay attention to the tire surface, if you find deep cuts, unusual cracks or wear greater than the minimum, you should replace it.

According to recommendations, tires used for about 40,000 - 50,000 km will have technical changes. However, if the tire is found to be cracked even before it has worn to the limit, consider replacing it to ensure safety.

Wipers, windshield washer fluid

This is a small part but plays an important role in cleaning the windshield, helping the driver ensure visibility. Manufacturers often recommend that car users should replace the wiper blades after 12 - 18 months of use. However, with the hot and humid weather in Vietnam, the wiper pins are very susceptible to rust, and the rubber surface of the wiper blade is easily deformed and eroded.

If the wiper blade vibrates strongly, makes noise or does not wipe cleanly, the driver should check the rubber blade on the wiper blade and replace it with a new one. The replacement is quite simple, the user can do it himself without having to take it to a repair shop. In addition, pay attention to checking the connecting pins and springs on the wiper blade. Regularly check and clean the dirt on the wiper blade and pay attention to filling the windshield washer fluid tank in the car.

Brake system

During use, the driver should pay attention to checking the operation of the brake system. If you detect any of the following phenomena such as the brake pedal feeling "softer" than normal, hard braking, reduced braking efficiency, making noises or the brake warning light coming on... you should take the car to the garage for inspection and repair.

Currently, new cars are often equipped with disc brake systems, some old cars use drum brakes, over time the brake pads will wear out, reducing friction leading to poor braking efficiency, in this case the brake pads should be replaced and the brake discs re-coated. In addition, according to recommendations to ensure the operation of the brake system, users should replace at least 2 years/time. If brake fluid is found to be leaking or the piston is stuck, it needs to be replaced. The brake assembly on each wheel should be cleaned and sprayed thoroughly after washing the car, to avoid dirt and sand sticking to the brake discs and brake pads, reducing braking efficiency.

Diesel

Engine oil and oil filters are usually recommended by manufacturers to be replaced after about 5,000 - 10,000 km of use depending on operating conditions. However, in reality, if you often drive in crowded cities or dusty environments, drivers should regularly check the condition of the engine oil.

This job is quite simple, the driver just needs to open the hood, pull out the dipstick on the engine to check. With engine oil, you should pay attention to 2 factors: oil level and color. If the oil level is low, you should add more. Good oil should be golden brown and free of dirt. If the oil is dark with a lot of dirt, you must change the oil as well as the oil filter.

Engine coolant

Coolant acts as a bridge to transfer heat from the engine to the radiator. Therefore, if the coolant is allowed to run out, it will affect the operation of the car engine. According to Ford technical experts, to avoid changing the chemical composition of the engine coolant, users should change it after 40,000 km.

In addition, the coolant level must be checked regularly. Make sure the coolant level in the auxiliary tank is always between the “Max” and “Min” positions when the engine is cold. If the coolant level is lower than the “Min” level in the auxiliary tank, the auxiliary tank cap and radiator cap must be opened to add more water.

Lighting

Problems such as burnt out bulbs, dim lights or misaligned light angles... always make it difficult for drivers to control their cars, especially at night. Therefore, before each trip, drivers should take the time to check the operation of the lighting system. Make sure the lights are still working properly in high and low beam modes. Step on the brake and ask someone to help observe and check the operation of the brake light system. In addition, you should pay attention to checking the turn signal lights, this type of light operates in a flashing state at a certain frequency. If the lights show signs of damage (flashing too fast or too slow compared to normal), they need to be repaired promptly.

According to TNO